Rim end connecting device



Filed Nov. 7, 1929 J. H. WAGENHORST RIM END CONNECTING DEVICE April 11,1933.`

Patented pr. 11, 1933 JAMES H. WAGENHORST, orY DETROIT, MIcrrreANlii-RIM END CONNECTING DEVICE Application led November 7, 1929. SerialNo. 405,428.

This invention relates to improvements in demountable wheel rims andparticularly to locking means for securing together the ends of.transversely split rims.

Automobile manufacturers have eliminated the fabric flap heretoforeinterposed between the inner tube and rim so that in present dayautomobile wheels the inner tube is in direct contact with the rim basebetween the beads of the tire casing. Where the rim is of thetransversely split type this elimination of the tube protecting flapnecessitates a close fit at the joint formed by the abutting ends of therim. It also requires the two ends of the rim to be held in lateralalinement with each other. In view of these conditions, the

primary object of this invention is to provide a link arrangement forlocking together the ends of the rim, the locking device being such thatthe rim ends are securely held against lateral movement relatively toone another and against radial movement relatively to each other.

In its broader aspect the invention comprises a link pivotally connectedto each rim end and a positioning member on one of the rim ends, one ofthese elements being bifuroated or formed with two laterally spacedsurfaces between which the other element is 30 received for preventingrelative lateral movement of the rim ends. There may also be removablemeans for locking said two elements against relative radial movement.More specifically the invention consists of an elongated lug formed withintegral riveting portions secured to one rim end and a bifurcated linkpivotally attached to said lug and to the other rim end whereby the lugmay engage between the bifurcations of the link when the rim ends arebrought together, the link being locked against radial movement withrespect to the lug by the frictional engagement between those part-s orby removable fastening means preferably in the 45 form of a pin held ina recess in the lug and engaging the link. A further object isy tosimplify the connection by having the lug formedwith integral rivets andof sufficient area as to frictionally retain the link in en- 50 gagementtherewith, the lug 4also having the link pivoted thereto,therebyreducing-the number of parts to a minimum. l y

With these and other objects in. view the invention consists in'certaindetails of con- Y struction and combinations of Vparts all asVwill hereinafter be more fully describedV and the novel features thereofparticularly, point-j ed out in the appendedzclaims.. y 'y Y In theaccompanying drawing:4 y

Figure lis a side elevational view of the locking device applied to asplit rim,"the Y base of which is shown in section. and the ends ofwhich are shown locked in their normal position.' i Y Fig. 2 is a planview of. the innerV face of 65 the rim showing the locking deviceapplied thereto. ,i i .y Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the rim open. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentarysectional view of 1.0 a rim illustrating amodifiedV locking arrangement, andv Fig. 5 is a detailed perspectiveview of the lug forming a part of theV locking device.'

As above outlined the invention consists 'L5 of a positioningelementlextending radially* inward from one rim vend and a connectingelement in the formV of-a link pivotallyattached to said positioningelement and to the other rim end, one of these elements being providedwith laterally spaced surfaces between which the other element engageswhen the-rim ends are'in abutting engagement with one another. In thepreferred embodiment of the ,invention Vthis. locking arrangementconsistsspecifically cfa' lugV 10 formed with integralprotuberances 11constitutingk rivets which may be riveted over as shown at 12 for 'thepurpose of rigidly attaching the lug to thebase of one rim end 13. Theconnecting element or link 14 isl} ivotally attached to lug 10 by` a`rivet Vleirtending transversely of said lug and said linkis alsopivotally secured'to thev other rim end 16' by a rivet 17 extending`transversely through 95 the link and hinge member 18 riveted to said rimend 16. j '7, j A

To laterally aline the rim ends 13, f16 either the lug 10 or link 14, isformedwith laterally spaced; surfaces between which the other 1.00

member is received when the rim ends are in abutting engagement.Preferably, as shown in the drawing, the link 14 is bifurcated so as toform arms 14a that engage the oppo- 5 site side faces of lug 10. The lug10 may be said to constitute a friction block in that frictionalengagement between its side faces and link 14 is suchv as to normallyprevent rim end 13 moving radially outward with respect to rim end 16.However, in order to positively lock the parts against relative radialmovement, my invention contemplates the provision of additional lockingmeans. For instance, as shown inV Figuresrl to 3 lug 1Q maybe formedwith'a transverse opening 18a in which a Cotter pin 19 maybe secured,the end portions of the pin engaging the edges of bifurcations 14a ofthe link. An-V otherfo'rm of these locking means is illustrated inyFigures 4 and 5 wherein a recess 2O isV formed in one end surface oflug 10 and the Cotter pin 19 projects through slots 21` in bifurcations14a' of the connecting link with the intermediateA portions of said pinlying in said recess 2O.l The tendency of the parts to move radiallyrelatively to one another vwill hold pin 19l in this position untilmanually removed. Y Y

By forming` the rivets 11 integral with lug 10i; by connecting link 14to rim end 13 through lug 10 and by having said lug function as afriction block to retain link-'14 in engagement therewith,the device isof comparatively simple construction and of `a minimum number o fparts.l Y VVhatIy claim is: Y l

l. The combination of a transversely split wheel rim, a link pivotallyconnected to both endsV of said rim, said link having a slot therein,a'lug attached to one rim end having a notch' therein, saidlug'beingadapted` to engage said link to position the rim ends inlateral alinement, and a pin extending through the slot in said link andshiftable therein into engagement with the notch in said lug to hold thelink against movement radially of said lug.` 'e K' 2.!r].`he''combination- 'of a transverselyl split through the split wherebyone rim end laps and has a tendency to ride over the .other rim end byreason of its inherent tension, a link pivoted to one rim end, a lugmember fixed to the other rim end, a pivotal connection be-V tween saidmember and link, said lug member and link being closely associated tomaintain lateral alinement of the rim ends, said lug member having atransverse aperture, said link having an abutment constitutingV edgealineable with said aperture by retractingthe lapping rim end againstits tendency to ride over the other rim end end, and

a p in received in said aperture'and abutting.

the said edge of the link to maintain radial alinement of the rim ends,said pin being retained against displacement by the inherent Y tensionof the rim.

JAMEs H. wAGENHoRsT. f

rim, one end of 'which has a tendency to eX- Y tend,V slightly beyondthe other end radially,

a linkrpivoted toonerim end, said link'hav-V ingV agbifurcated portionprovided with alined slotsintermedate its ends, 'an elongate finlikepositioning member'attached edgevvise at one end of therimba'seandextendingthrough andsnugly received between the bifurcations 'ofthellink to 'retain-theirim ends in lateral alinement, said positioningmeansV having a transverse notchalined with said slots when Y .00

said-rimA ends'are in alinement, and a pin in saidslots. maintained inVsaid notch by the inherent resistance Vof the parts to the vradial ivdisplacementvof said link.

3. They co binativ n ofa vvlieel rim, trans- 'fe5 versely split in aplane diagonal to a'rad-ius

